The aromatic tasting basil is one of the most popular culinary herbs and is available in every supermarket. If you always want to have a supply at home, you can also grow basil in a raised bed. We show how this type of cultivation works.
How does growing basil in raised beds work?
Either basil can betransplanted from the potor you cansow the seeds directly in the raised bed. It is important to ensure constant watering and placing the raised bed in a warm, sunny location so that the basil thrives.
Is basil good for growing in raised beds?
Basil, also known as royal herb, is idealfor growing in raised beds. Varieties other than the “classic” Italian basil are also suitable for this, for example red basil and lemon basil.
Vegetables such as cucumbers and zucchini as well as tomatoes are suitable as neighbors in the raised bed - a mixed culture is definitely recommended so that the plants support each other. Other herbs in the immediate vicinity can cause problems for the basil: savory, lemon balm, sage and thyme are not suitable.
How to grow basil in raised beds?
There are two ways to grow basil in raised beds:
- Relocating young plants: Basil that was bought in a pot or grown at home can be planted in raised beds at constant temperatures of at least 16 °C.
- Sow the seeds directly into the bed: Sowing the seeds also works from mid-May, when the so-called ice saints are over. It should be noted that the plant is a light germinator, so the seeds must not be covered by soil.
How to create a raised bed for basil?
When creating a raised bed for basil, make sure that it is filled correctly. Different layers are necessary for this:
- small branches or twigs
- Green cuttings, alternatively leaves
- half-ripened compost
- high quality soil
For basil,herb soil is best suited as the top layer because it is very nutrient-rich and provides the plants with everything they need. The lower layers are important so that there is no waterlogging - the culinary herb doesn't like this at all. However, it must be watered regularly.
Are there any benefits to growing basil in raised beds?
The plantsthrive significantly better in raised bedsthan in pots because they have more space available. A big advantage is that the basil in the raised bed is wellprotected from snails- if it is cultivated directly outdoors, an infestation with the pests is almost inevitable. In addition, when basil is grown in a raised bed with tomatoes and other vegetables, its intense smell makes it a good pest defense aid for these plants.
Tip
Always harvest abundantly and correctly
The more stems you cut from the basil, the better the plant branches. This makes it bushier and as a result even more can be harvested. It is important to avoid plucking individual leaves - otherwise no new shoots can form.